If we can get something for less, then it's in our nature to do so.
Whether that be less work, less pain or less money, some are in it to get as much as possible for as little as possible.
The fashion industry inparticular is built upon inspiration both dishing it out by the gallon and unfortunately taking it without a care for the original idea in hand. Some say there is no such thing as an original idea, what with hundreds of thousands of years of inventions, designs and ideas, it's almost impossible to come up with something that is 100% original and not inspired by something of a similar ilk. And whilst, for the most part, life is all about being inspired by whatever you can be (see this video here on whats inspiring me right now) and it's all about taking elements of life and shaking it up to create your own unique world, however, sometimes things go a little too far.
Whilst imitation is the highest form of flattery, it's all getting a little out of hand if you ask me.
Artists, designers, singers and creators are being ripped off left right and centre and something has to give.
Just last week my dear friend Felicity Hayward had her work completely mimicked by SheIn.com, a website that I personally despise for that exact reason. There designs are FAR too close to the originals and sometimes, in Felicity's case, they're ripped off entirely. This is something that must be stopped. Creative ideas such as Felicity's and others take time, love and a heck load of blood, sweat and tears to perfect, so to see mainstream websites such as the one mentioned above, completely copying such designs, well, it's heartbreaking to say the least.
Creativity is such a magical thing, it's something not everyone is blessed with and I simply adore how creativity is within different people in entirely different ways. That's the beauty of it; It's completely unique to the individual. Whether you're a writer, a designer, comedian, artist or otherwise, creativity is exclusive to the respective person and it's not something that should be replicated by a lesser creative, yeah I'm looking at you She In.
The blogging industry is also swimming with dupe videos, blog posts and Instagram posts.
Whether it's the must have Gucci Marmont, the Chloe Faye or a pair of Givenchy boots, the blogging world is awash with how and where to find the latest dupe.
And whilst, I'm all for a designer inspired garment, it has to be inspired by. It can't simply be a rip of, of said design if you catch my drift.
Take the Gucci Horsebit slip on loafers for example.
I am lucky enough to own two pairs of the must have shoe of the year and that was my choice to do so. I wanted the real deal. I wanted to support a design that was originally created by Gucci and I wanted to have a slice of the authentic action.
However, I could have hit up the high street and picked up a pair within a thousand and one imitation designs of the much coveted shoe. The likes of Topshop and Mango and many more have all taken inspiration from this key Gucci trend and done their own spin on the shoe. They're slip on's but without the horsebit metal wear, which is unique to Gucci. However, some brands haven't been as polite and have completely ripped off their entire design, now this is where it starts to take the biscuit.
Whilst we'll always be inspired by that of the luxury designer market, I will not adhere to high street stores completely emulating a luxury design.
TOP- H&M, TROUSERS- c/o FINERY LONDON, BOOTS- c/o OFFICE, BAG- PRADA c/o NET-A-PORTER, SUNGLASSES- GUCCI c/o SUNGLASSES SHOP
So with that, I'm sharing two inspired-by items on the high street right now. NOT dupes!
There is a difference, one I hope you understand from my spiel above.
First up we have the AW17 J Crew and/or Marc Jacobs inspired rugby shirt, this time at a fraction of the price by H&M.
Marc Jacobs are a brand that I am TOTALLY in love with and have been for as long as I can remember. It is a brand that has a very special place in my heart as it was one of the first luxury brands that I remember being absolutely TOTALLY desperate to get my hands on when I was 14.
It's a brand that I always look to for styling inspiration and it's a brand that are always filling up my wish lists over on Net-A-Porter and FarFetch. When I spied this Marc Jacobs rugby shirt, I was desperate to get my hands on it. It conjured a real nostalgic feel for me having had many a rugby shirt back in the nineties from good ole Tammy Girl (who can relate?). I loved my Rugby Shirts fit with glitter slogans back in the day so I was naturally thrilled that they were coming back around.
And whilst I genuinely considered and toyed with getting the Marc Jacobs design for a good few weeks, I then spied the H&M version and it was naturally a no-brainer.
Marc Jacobs didn't design the Rugby Shirt. It isn't an original design for the brand. It's a sporting uniform and therefore is an inspired by piece even by Jacobs himself. So, H&M won the battle and it was the most perfect thing to wear for LFW day 2 as it genuinely felt like I was wearing loungewear all day long.
Whilst also being a sporting uniform, we can't forget that Kevin from Blues Clues rocked a rather dashing green version and Tracy Beaker donned one too #StyleIcons.
And finally the boots, OH THE BOOTS!
If you've been following along over on Instagram you'll know that these boots have barely been off my feet for the past couple of weeks and that's because they're so god damn beautiful!
They're by Office and in an insane fluoro pink satin. The heel, albeit a kitten heel, it's in fact coned, so makes for a REALLY easy and super comfortable boot to walk in. I've often struggled with stilettos and kitten heels due to the painfully thin heel and the impending getting stuck in paving stones/grass/grids. However, the cone shaped heel of these Office babies eradicates all of those problems and in-turn I've been wearing them NON STOP!
Whilst many a fash-week-goer stopped to ask if my boots were Balenciaga, and granted, I can see why; But I would never call these boots a dupe.
They're simply inspired by once more due to the fact that pointed boots with a kitten heel aren't original to Balenciaga.
Kitten heel's were introduced in the late 1950's for a smarter shoe choice for teenage girls so have been around for many years and are therefore not an original design for Balenciaga, in turn being an inspired piece all round.
So whilst being inspired by all that is around us is beautiful, it's SO SO SO important that original designs aren't completely ripped off.
I do hope you understand where I am coming from here. I'm merely expressing my thoughts on art and originality rather than suggesting we all invest in luxury items, I believe we should give credit where credit is due and I just so happen to think that this is taken for granted more often than not in many creative industries, including this one. Just do you.
Let's discuss.
x M
You total beauty – I love this post, and I completely agree with you. The high-street is at its best when it provides it’s own interpretations of designer wear; it’s a much better testament to a brands creativity than simply directly copying something.
As always, you look like an absolute star!
x Camilla
http://www.intothefoldmag.com/editors-blog/
Trust you Camilla to put into words so beautifully what I was trying to say… It only took me an entire blog post instead haha! You have such a way with words babes!
Thank you for the lovely comment gorgeous girl, you’re so bloody wonderful! x
LOVE THIS POST!!! No one talks about the reality of fashion and shit that goes on! I get the whole dupes because it’s fast fashion but it’s not cool – yes a lot of us can’t afford $1000 on shoes and when we see something similar we get it, but that is no excuse to buy something that’s a complete rip off! It’s worse when it’s smaller designers who work so hard to be up with the brands like Gucci! I’m not one to hold back on rip offs and I understand getting something similar but never something that looks exactly like the brand – not cool, no matter who they are. X
https://ainsleylouise.com
Thanks lovely for your comment.
And yes, me too, I love getting something inspired by the catwalks for a fraction of the price on the highstreet, but sometimes things are taken too far and design featured that luxury fashion houses are known for are replicated exactly.
There’s definitely a balance and a happy medium, if only everyone did this 🙂
x
Yes, this is true and now I’m thinking about if I can imitate your excellent outfit 🙂
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
HAHA go on girl! x
Such an interesting talking point!!
I do agree to an extent! It’s simply not on when big companies and websites rip off individual creative’s work and ideas and claim it as their own! I imagine it’s one of the toughest things about being a blogger/content creator – you have to fight to be heard and seen and fight for ownership of your own ideas and work.
And yet, the majority of people will never be able to afford those kind of items, and so when high street brands bring out almost exact replicas, I think alot of people – including myself – feel like “yes! now I feel like I can be a part of a world/industry which I usually would never have access to”. I love luxury fashion, I hope one day to be able to afford some of it. But perhaps if they’re prices weren’t so extortionate – I currently don’t even earn in a month what a pair of Gucci loafers costs – there wouldn’t be so much of a gap in the market for high street brands to fill and take advantage of and maybe there’d be less imitation in general.
BTW your blog is absolute goals/dreamy. And you inspire me EVERYDAY (budding blogger).
xx
Eleanor, thanks for your wonderful comment and for getting involved in the chat, it’s so great!
I completely agree with you that the prices of luxury fashion houses are RIDIC and I love your point about there not being a gap in the market if these prices weren’t so steep. It just bugs me when brands create exact replicas rather than inspired by pieces, it’s something that doesn’t sit well with me and hasn’t for some time now. I too, can’t afford to be dripping in luxury items and I never want to be if I’m honest. I absolutely adore the high street, it’s such a shame that some brands tarnish it with exact dupes.
Thanks so much once again hun x
I’m with you here! Understandably be inspired by something but don’t create an EXACT replica – I’m all for dupes because #studentlife but I like a brand to put their own personality and spin on it.
Katie | http://aesthetix-katie.com
HAHA love the hashtag!
Yes, exact replica’s aren’t fair! But yes inspired by the catwalk items I am ALL for! x
I totally TOTALLY agree with your babes. I have always been put off by dupes, especially complete and obvious copies, and you have perfectly put into words why! Other than the fact I know most of the Gucci loafer dupes – to use your example – wouldn’t last as long as the original, I also would want the original design. Therefore I would rather not have that “must-have piece” in my wardrobe than have a cheap knock off. Also good on you for calling out brands for doing this <3
http://www.fashionetmoi.com
Thank you lovely Isabelle, it’s a really tough topic and one that will completely split people down the middle. But I do believe that ripping things off isn’t a good thing and we can all be inspired without having to copy the original 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to chat about this babes, means a lot x
Whilst what happened to Felicity with her design is terrible and should be shut down immediately, i’m a bit on the fence with regards to high street brand’s own version of high end clothes /shoes / bags. Fact is majority of people simply can’t afford to spend £400 on a pair of shoes or £1000 on a bag, it’s just not feasible for most of us. The high street builds its business from designs trickled down from the catwalk it’s always been like this…
The idea that people can buy into what’s presented by our fav bloggers, upon seeing them sport expensive clobber and knowing that you can imitate their style a fraction of the price offers some consolation. It’s such a complex topic, but it’s great you’re highlighting such things like what happened to Felicity x
Felicity, thank you so much for your comment.
Completely great point and I too can’t justify spending thousands of pounds on designer items, that isn’t what this post is about. It’s about the fact that sometimes the high street and other brands and artists are completely ripping off other designs and thats where I believe it is unjust. Inspired by pieces are incredible and as you can see from this look I’m ALL about getting a slice of the inspiration at a fraction of the price.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat about this though, it really means a lot x
Megan you really are a rare diamond in this world called blog <3 <3 x
This is the one of the biggest struggles in the creative world! I agree that complete rip offs are a big no-no, as people have put in effort and to have your ideas taken from you to be sold much cheaply is horrible!
However, I must say that massive brands like Gucci, Prada and most of the high end designers use materials like leather, lizard, crocodile skins and more. As a person who refuses to buy such disgusting things (the idea of walking around with a dead animal skin who was treated disgustingly is not appealing to me), it is annoying that only very few designers understand this! What about people who want cruelty free products?? Only Stella Mccartney and Vivienne Westwood do cruelty free products. So I think in a way we don’t have much choice – if I want to buy nice things and love the look of luxury designs, I can only make do with dupes….
Love your blog Megan and I religiously watch your videos! I would love if you could do a post or video about cruelty free fashion/makeup products!
Thanks xx
Fantastic point!
I adore brands such as Stella McCartney for being 100% cruelty free, as you may already know.
Thank you so much for sharing your opinion on the matter, I really appreciate it and compeletely agree with you on this one.
Thank you also for your super lovely words about my videos and blog and also for the video idea, I will definitely give this a whirl. Thank you x
I completely agree with you and, personally, I would not feel comfortable buying an exact copy of something, no matter how much more affordable it is! I love this rugby shirt, I love them in general, but this H&M one reminds me of the one my father used to wear!
http://fannyanddailybeauty.com
First of all I bloody LOVE this outfit (that bag is what dreams are made of, no?!), and I couldn’t agree with you more love! I recently saw a collaboration with F21 that had ripped off another designer and it was so out of line. I think high street brands should be doing their research and like you said it’s fine to be inspired but completely ripping off someone else’s work is pretty much fraud! Well said my love!
Hayley xo
http://www.frockmeimfamous.com
Hayley thanks so much for reading babes and for your lovely comment. Really glad you agree with me, it’s such a tricky thing to discuss but I’m glad you understood where I’m coming from boo!
Miss ya x
I totally get it, girl. I love how you’re addressing this. Love your look too!
Thank you daring, I am SO glad x
Oh I love your style and that purple striped rugby is so lovely! You are the cutest! I just by accident found your blog and I think it’s great! In regards to the shirt, do you mind telling me what size you’re wearing? It does look a bit oversized and I just love the way it looks on you! Thanks so much and have a great day! 🙂
Ohhh Melissa WOW thank you so much babe, means a lot.
I’m wearing a size 8, but do bare in mind, it’s a really oversized piece 🙂 x
Hi Megan! I loved reading your article for many reasons. First off, I really like the way you talk about important topics like this one, your writing is agreable to read as always. I also loved how you used your own items as examples in order to differentiate what’s “inspired by” from what’s ripped-off. Your arguments were really interesting, they show how much you love and know about fashion in general. When it comes to the issue, I have to agree with you. It’s a little too easy to just copy something from head to toe, the brands know the product is gonna go viral and make them a lot of money anyway, so why make the effort to change it? It’s lazy and honestly a cheap trick to make £££$$.
You mentioned Shein as well : chinese sites like this are so good at getting away with stealing designs because they’re not official counterfeits since they don’t use the brands’ names. However, they steal photos from other websites (like Asos and other designers’ sites), so all this should start raising questions. I had the bad idea to buy something from there years ago (now I know better haha), and it’s so not worth it. Sure it’s cheap, but the quality goes with the price, and the smell of gasoline was horrendous (it took me dozens of wash to remove the smell).
All in all I agree whole-heartedly with you, it’s a good thing to spread the word to people who might not know too much about the issue 🙂
Sorry for the long comment, but as you can see your post inspired me haha
Lots of love from France <3
Madeline WOW thank you SO much for your really lovely and long comment, that really means the world!
I’m so glad you agree with what I’ve said here and thank you for sharing your story on the matter. It’s a tough thing to discuss as I completely understand both why high street stores do it and why we buy it from time to time, but it’s something I feel is getting a little out of hand.
Thank you gorge x